Keyboard on Xiaomi is one of the most used tools, but its settings do not always meet your needs. Most often, users are faced with the need to change the input language: whether it is switching from Russian to English for work, adding Chinese to communicate or fixing a randomly installed language after updating MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change the keyboard language on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones – from standard settings to solving atypical problems.
It is important to understand that the process may vary depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14), device model and keyboard type (standard Gboard, SwiftKey or proprietary Mi Keyboard).We will look at the universal methods that work on most devices, and also give recommendations for specific cases - for example, when the language is reset after a reboot or the desired layout is missing.
1. Standard method: changing the language through keyboard settings
The easiest and most obvious method is to use the built-in keyboard settings, which are suitable for most users and take no more than a minute. Consider the step-by-step instruction for the standard Gboard keyboard (which is the default on many Xiaomi models).
If you have a different keyboard (like SwiftKey or Mi Keyboard), the principles will be similar, but the path in the menu may be slightly different.
- 📱 Open any application where you can type text (such as Messages or Notes).
- 🔑 Tap the text input field to make the keyboard appear.
- ⚙️ Click on the gear icon (⚙️) ternary (⋮) on the keyboard to open its settings.
- 🌐 Select Languages or Language (depending on the current interface language).
- ➕ Click Add Language and select the language from the list.
After adding a new language, you can switch between layouts by swiping your finger across the space (in Gboard) or clicking on the globe icon (🌐) If the desired language is not listed, you may need to update the keyboard via Google Play.
2. Change the language through the MIUI system settings
If for some reason you can not open the keyboard settings directly (for example, due to a failure or absence of the gear icon), you can change the input language through the basic MIUI settings.
Note that MIUI 14 has slightly changed the way the keyboard is set up compared to MIUI 12/13, and the latest version of the algorithm is the following:
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to the section Additional → Language and input (Additional settings → Language & input).
- Select the Current Keyboard (Current Keyboard).
- Click on the active keyboard name (such as Gboard).
- In the menu that opens, select Languages and add or remove the necessary ones.
If your keyboard isn't on the list, it might be disabled to activate it.
- Go back to Language and Enter and select Manage Keyboards.
- Turn on the switch next to the desired keyboard (such as the Gboard or Mi Keyboard).
- Return to the input field and try to open the keyboard settings again.
Make sure the keyboard is updated to the latest version|
Check your Internet connection (to download new languages)|
Close all applications that use the keyboard |
Restart your smartphone if the settings do not apply-->
3. Features of the Mi Keyboard
Some Xiaomi models (especially the Chinese firmware versions) have the Mi Keyboard, a branded keyboard that has its own customization features that can confuse users who are used to Gboard.
The main difference between the Mi Keyboard and the Mi Keyboard is that it doesn't swipe languages over the space, instead using a separate switch button, and some versions of MIUI can hide language settings deeper than Gboard.
- 🔍 To add language to Mi Keyboard, go to Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Mi Keyboard → Languages.
- 📌 Some languages may not be available (for example, Ukrainian or Belarusian), in which case you will have to install Gboard from Google Play.
- 🔄 To switch between languages in Mi Keyboard uses a button with the icon of the globe (🌐) or the letter "A" (depending on the version).
- ⚠️ In Chinese firmware (China) ROM) You can only set Chinese by default. To add others, you need to change the region in the system settings.
Important: If you use Chinese ROM, changing the keyboard language may require you to change the device region to "Russia" or "Europe" before you use it, otherwise some languages (such as Russian) may not be available.
How to distinguish China ROM from Global ROM?
4 Problem Solving: Language is not changed or reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the keyboard language does not change or resets after a reboot, and this can be due to several reasons, from bugs in the firmware to conflicts between several keyboards installed.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Language resets after rebooting | Conflict between several keyboards | Turn off all keyboards except one in Settings → Language and Enter |
| No language on the list | An outdated version of the keyboard | Update the keyboard via Google Play |
| Language switching is not working | Failure of keyboard settings | Reset the keyboard settings to factory |
| The keyboard does not respond to pressing | Systemic glitch or lack of memory | Restart the device or clear the keyboard cache |
If the keyboard language resets after the MIUI update, try the following steps:
- Remove all unnecessary languages from the keyboard list, leaving only the ones you use.
- Clear the keyboard cache in the app settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Keyboard Name] → Clear the cache).
- If the problem persists, try reinstalling the keyboard (remove and reinstall from Google Play).
⚠️ Note: If you use informal firmware (such as custom LineageOS or Pixel Experience), keyboard problems may be due to incorrect build, in which case it is recommended to return the official firmware or install an alternative keyboard (such as SwiftKey).
5 How to Add a Language That Is Not on the List
Sometimes the keyboards may not be available in the list of available languages, which is true for rare languages (such as Tatar, Kazakh) or for users of Chinese firmware (China ROM), and there are several ways to solve the problem.
The most reliable method is to install an alternative keyboard that supports the desired language, for example, Google's Gboard has one of the most extensive language databases, and if you want to use the branded Mi Keyboard, you have to change the region of the device.
- 🌍 Install Gboard from Google Play and add the language you want to use in your settings.
- 📱 To change the region, go to Settings → The phone. → Region and select the country whose language you want (e.g. "Kazakhstan" for Kazakh).
- 🔄 After changing the region, restart the device and check the available languages in the keyboard settings.
- 📲 If you use China ROM, You may need to re-read the entire Global ROM for access to all languages.
For users who want to keep the Mi Keyboard branded keyboard, but are faced with a lack of the right language, there is a workaround: install APK-Keyboard file with support for additional languages, but this method requires caution, since the installation of third-party APK may be unsafe.
💡
If you want a language that isn’t in the standard settings, try using Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard, which supports more than 100 languages and allows you to create your own layouts.
6. Fast language switching: hot keys and gestures
Switching between keyboard languages can be made even more convenient by setting up hotkeys or gestures, which is especially useful for those who often type in multiple languages.
Gboard and most other keyboards have built-in features for quick switching, such as Gboard, where you can swipe by space or use a special button. In Mi Keyboard, you can switch through the globe icon, but you can change the position.
- 👆 In Gboard: swipe the space to the left or right to switch between languages.
- 🌐 In Mi Keyboard: Click on the globe icon (🌐) Or hold it to select a language from the list.
- ⌨️ SwiftKey: Use the swipe gesture on the 123 key to switch languages.
- ⚡ Set up double tap on the space to switch (available in some keyboards, such as Chroom).
If you are uncomfortable using standard switching methods, you can create a shortcut on the home screen for quick access to keyboard settings:
- Add shortcuts to the main screen.
- Select Settings → Language and input.
- You will now have quick access to the language change directly from the home screen.
7. Reset keyboard settings to factory
If all of the above methods didn’t work, and the keyboard still doesn’t work properly, the final step may be to reset the keyboard, which will bring all of the parameters back to factory values, including languages, themes, and custom dictionaries.
Resetting won’t remove the keyboard itself, but all of your personal settings (such as added words to the dictionary) will be lost, so it’s recommended that you save important data before performing this procedure.
⚠️ Note: Resetting the keyboard does not affect the system languages of the device. if the problem is related to the firmware itself (for example, after updating). MIUI lost Russian language, will require a deeper reset or flashing.
To reset the keyboard settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find your keyboard (such as Gboard or Mi Keyboard) and open its settings.
- Select Warehouse. → Clearing the data (Clear data).
- Confirm the action and restart the device.
Once you reset, you'll have to re-add the languages you want and customize the keyboard, and if the problem was a setting conflict, this method should fix it.
💡
Resetting your keyboard settings is a last resort, and before using it, try clearing your cache, updating your app, or restarting your smartphone.